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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
If you grew up to the scent of Pantene or Herbal Essences, the concept of a fragrance-free shampoo might feel foreign—sad, even. But the reality is that for some people, fragrance can be irritating and to blame for certain sensitivities and skin issues.
If you’ve worked out that’s you, it’s worth swapping out sweet-smelling classics for unscented, gentle alternatives—formulas that will cleanse your hair but won’t contribute to flare-ups. But finding a fragrance-free shampoo that works is easier said than done, so we’ve done the work and compiled the best of the best, and consulted with the trichologist, Lisa Caddy. No matter what your budget or hair type (from kinky and coiled to fine and greasy), there’s a fragrance-free option that’s great for you.
Meet the Expert
Lisa Caddy is a trichologist and hair expert who works as a consultant and education manager at Philip Kingsley. She’s also a member of the Institute of Trichologists.
Just keep scrolling to find the best fragrance-free shampoos.
Best Overall
Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour Shampoo
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Neiman Marcus
Gentle
Deeply cleanses
Non-irritating
Expensive
Who else recommends it? Women's Wear Daily, Cosmopolitan, and Refinery 29 all picked the Philip Kingsley No Scent No Colour Shampoo.
“Philip Kingsley’s No Scent No Colour Shampoo is suitable for all hair types and ideal for anyone looking for a pared-down formula,” says Caddy. “It's fragrance-free, color-free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free, but still effectively cleanses the hair and scalp.”
It’s also a top-rated buy on Amazon.
Price at time of publish: $32
Active Ingredients: Amaranth protein, glycerin, chamomile | Hair Type: All | Free of: Colors, fragrance, sulfates, parabens | Size: 8.45 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Drugstore
Vanicream Free & Clear Shampoo
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Amazon
Affordable
Works for very sensitive skin
Doesn’t lather well
Made for those with an extremely reactive or sensitive scalp, this shampoo formula takes a little getting used to (it doesn’t foam that well), but the ingredients are so gentle just about anyone should be able to use it.
Price at time of publish: $11
Active Ingredients: Glycerin, panthenol | Hair Type: Balanced, oily | Free of: Fragrance, silicones, sulfates, parabens, proteins, gluten | Size: 12 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Fine Hair
Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk Ultra Soothing Fragrance-Free Hypoallergenic Shampoo
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Nordstrom
Lightweight
Hydrating
Expensive
This super-gentle formula is made with oat extract which is known to soothe and calm irritated skin (including that on the scalp). There’s also green tea, aloe vera, and meadowfoam seed oil to gently cleanse without weighing down fine strands.
Price at time of publish: $28
Active Ingredients: Oat milk, aloe vera | Hair Type: Balanced to fine | Free of: Sulfates, fragrance, phthalates, parabens | Size: 8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Thick Hair
Paula's Choice All Over Hair & Body Shampoo
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Amazon
Multi-purpose
Prevents tangles
Contains silicones
This simple but effective pick from Paula’s Choice is rich in aloe vera, a natural plant extract that works to soothe irritation, support follicle health, and reduce inflammation. It does contain silicones, and while they get a bad wrap, they can be useful for thick, frizzy, or unruly hair as they will help it to lay flat and prevent tangling.
Price at time of publish: $22
Active Ingredients: Aloe, soy protein, panthenol | Hair Type: Balanced to thick | Free of: Fragrance, parabens | Size: 14.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Curly Hair
Melanin Haircare African Black Soap Reviving Shampoo
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Ulta
Safe for curls and coils
Hydrating
Not ideal for oily hair
If you want to gently cleanse your curly or coiled hair without stripping essential moisture, this innovative black soap from Melanin Haircare is seriously impressive. It contains tea tree oil—known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties—alongside cocoa seed butter and provitamin B5 to support natural moisture. While it is synthetic fragrance-free, it still has a comforting, herbaceous scent (thanks to rosemary, lavender, and peppermint).
Price at time of publish: $20
Active Ingredients: Tea tree, turmeric, black cumin seed | Hair Type: Thick, coarse, coiled, and curly | Free of: Silicones, sulfates, fragrance | Size: 16.1 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Colored Hair
Pipette Baby Shampoo + Wash
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Amazon
Multi-purpose
Affordable
Not ideal for thick or coarse hair
We know this says it’s for babies, but the fragrance-free gentle wash is also sulfate-free and incredibly gentle, meaning it won’t unnecessarily strip your expensive hair color. Instead, it contains squalene, glycolipids, and glycerin to assist with moisture retention. Oh, and you can use it on your body, too!
Price at time of publish: $16
Active Ingredients: Squalane, glycerin | Hair Type: Balanced, colored, fine | Free of: Fragrance, sulfates, parabens, silicones | Size: 12 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Dry or Damaged Hair
Drunk Elephant Cocomino Glossing Shampoo
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Space NK
Repairing
Lightweight
Expensive
Rich in sacha inchi oil and coconut aminos, this lipid-rich shampoo is lightweight but still feels supremely nourishing on dry, damaged, or split hair types. While there’s no fragrance, the inclusion of rose, coconut, and sweet almond gives it a soft but noticeable scent. And the soft, airy foaming texture moves through the hair, leaving it feeling clean, voluminous, and shiny.
Price at time of publish: $25
Active Ingredients: Coconut aminos, sacha inchi oil | Hair Type: Balanced to dry or damaged | Free of: fragrance, sulfates, silicones, parabens | Size: 8 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Normal Hair
Phillip B Gentle Conditioning Shampoo
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Dermstore
Hydrating
Lightweight
Doesn’t foam too well
Got balanced to dry hair that craves hydration without heaviness? The Phillip B Gentle Conditioning Shampoo is just what the doctor ordered. Packed with nourishing shea butter to soften the scalp and prevent water loss in the hair shaft, it softens and conditions the hair without canceling out volume. A great pick for balanced to slightly dry hair.
Price at time of publish: $32
Active Ingredients: Shea butter, birch leaves | Hair Type: Balanced to dry | Free of: Fragrance, parabens, silicones, sulfates | Size: 7.4 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Splurge
Augustinus Bader The Shampoo
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Neiman Marcus
Hydrating
Strengthening
Expensive
Every celebrity's favorite skincare brand recently launched into haircare, and the reception has been pretty overwhelming. The Shampoo, fortified with the brand's patented TFC8 trigger factor complex, claims to improve shedding patterns, strength, shine, and hydration. It’s also fragrance-free and packed with nourishing botanical extracts like maca, Indian cress, shikakai, and rice protein. The light, foaming formulation can be used across all hair types and conditions, too.
Price at time of publish: $55
Active Ingredients: TFC8, watercress, Indian cress, shikakai, and maca root | Hair Type: Balanced to dry, damaged | Free of: Parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, silicone | Size: 6.7 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Sensitive Scalps
SEEN Skin-Caring Fragrance-Free Shampoo
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Ulta
Dermatologist-formulated
Hydrating
Expensive
Dealing with a fussy scalp that hates just about every shampoo out there? Seen is designed by dermatologists to afford you clean, swishy hair without irritation. Seen Shampoo Fragrance Free contains what’s called hemisqualane, a type of squalane that can moisturize. It’s also made without pore-clogging oils, so is a top choice if you’re extremely acne-prone.
Price at time of publish: $29
Active Ingredients: Hemisqualane | Hair Type: Balanced, sensitive | Free of: Sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens, dyes, fragrance | Size: 8.6 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Powder Shampoo
Susteau Moondust Hair Wash Fragrance Free
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Sephora
Waterless
Housed in recyclable packaging
Doesn’t lather well
Looking for a low-waste, low-water shampoo that’s fragrance-free but still leaves your strands oh so fresh and clean? Susteau is an amazing brand doing just that with its Moondust formula, a protein-packed powder that turns creamy when it comes into contact with wet hair. While it’s not as “foaming” as a traditional shampoo, it still gently removes sweat, product, and build-up.
Price at time of publish: $29
Active Ingredients: Rice protein, aloe vera, sodium cocoyl isethionate | Hair Type: Balanced | Free of: Fragrance, sulfates, parabens | Size: 1.76 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Oily Hair
Drybar One-Two Punch Water-Activated 2-in-1 Hair Wash
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Ulta
Doubles as a conditioner
Waterless
Not ideal for dry hair
Another water-free powder formula, this shampoo from Drybar activates when it comes into contact with water, deeply cleansing the hair and restoring fullness. Because it also doubles as a conditioner, it’s an excellent option for oily strands that don’t need a tonne of moisture.
Price at time of publish: $23
Active Ingredients: Coconut milk, coconut-derived surfactant, strawberry seed oil | Hair Type: Balanced to oily | Free of: Fragrance, sulfates, parabens | Size: 2.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
So your fragrance-free shampoo favorite will come down to your hair type and its condition, but we’re pretty sure Phillip Kingley’s No Scent No Colour (view at Neiman Marcus) formula is our unanimous favorite. It’s cleansing, still a treat to use, and it leaves the hair silky but fresh. Tied in second place are the Susteau Moondust Hair Wash Fragrance-Free (view at Sephora) (for its sustainability cred and lovely formula) and Augustinus Bader’s The Shampoo (view at Nordstrom). Even though the latter is expensive, it’s by far one of the most luxurious, effective hair washing experiences we’ve had.
What to Look for in a Fragrance-Free Shampoo
No Fragrance
Before you call us Captain Obvious, Trichologist Lisa Caddy points out that ‘fragrance-free’ typically means “the absence of all synthetic perfumes”. You might want to double-check if your formula contains natural fragrance, or perhaps, is just formulated with ingredients that have an aroma (think peppermint, rosemary, or lavender). What you can and can’t use will come down to personal preference and sensitivities.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Emily Algar is an experienced freelance writer who covers all things beauty. Her work has also appeared in Popsugar, Vogue Australia, Grazia, Cosmopolitan, and more.
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